BMW International Open: Steve Palmer's betting preview, lowdown & TV details

TV: Sky Sports Golf, 10.3am Thursday

Matt Wallace has performed superbly in the last two Majors, following third place in the US PGA with 12th in the US Open, and the Englishman has arrived for his BMW International title defence brimming with confidence.

There are negatives about the favourite though, including the switch of BMW venue – Larchenhof to Eichenried – and the rigours of a Stateside Major a 15-hour journey away. Can Wallace overcome jet-lag and a potential lack of sparkle on his course debut?

Sergio Garcia, Matt Fitzpatrick, Erik van Rooyen and local hero Martin Kaymer – who struck his ball superbly at Pebble Beach – have also trekked to Germany from California.

Palmer's top tip
Thomas Detry 25-1

There is potential for lightning delays in Munich this week and any US Open arrivals who are struggling for energy and concentration will not be aided by a stop-start tournament. European Tour maiden Thomas Detry should keep his focus throughout, desperate for his breakthrough, and the super-talented Belgian can upstage last week's Major players.

Detry had European Tour form figures of MC-48-65-MC-MC prior to his Eichenried course debut as a rookie in 2017, but fell in love with the venue, closing with a 66 to finish second by a shot. His three outings afterwards resulted in MC-48-MC, Eichenried standing out like a beacon.

On his return two years later, Detry can attack a track he loves with more confidence. He won the World Cup for Belgium, alongside Thomas Pieters, at the end of November and has performed well this year, finishing 11th in Qatar, ninth in Morocco, 15th in the British Masters and recording a nine-under-par effort for 63 holes in a run to the last-16 stage of the Belgian Knockout last time out.

Detry's European Tour form figures in Germany are rock solid – 2-37-9-18-13 – and the short trip from Brussels should be profitable again.

Next best
Julian Suri 28-1

A hernia operation has clearly been successful for Julian Suri, who has been generally magnificent since his return to action at the end of March, and further gains can be expected for the American powerhouse in Munich.

European Tour form-figures of 20-4-2-19 were followed by a missed cut by a shot in the US PGA. Expect the power-packed slugger, a winner in the Czech Republic on the Challenge Tour and in Denmark on the European Tour, to get back among the birdies this week at a venue which sets up wonderfully for him.

Other selections
Guido Migliozzi 80-1
Sean Crocker 80-1
Romain Langasque 60-1
Victor Dubuisson 50-1
Kristoffer Reitan 300-1

A quintet of outsiders priced between 50-1 and 300-1 are recommended alongside the main two investments. Firstly, Guido Migliozzi, winner of the Kenya Open in March and the Belgian Knockout last time out, could complete a quickfire European Tour hat-trick at an Eichenried layout which is made for his power and attacking intent.

Sean Crocker plays in a similar fashion and the 22-year-old American should also fall in love with the venue. Crocker, who lost in the semi-finals of the 2015 US Amateur to Bryson DeChambeau before needing just 11 starts last year to graduate from the Challenge Tour to the European Tour, finished second in the Hassan Trophy at the end of April. A maiden title seems imminent.

Former amateur star Romain Langasque is also worth following. The Q-School graduate, a winner on the Challenge Tour in September, has since finished second in the South African Open, sixth in Kenya, fifth in China and third in Denmark. Like Detry, he teed up at Eichenried as a struggling rookie in 2017 – Langasque had just missed seven consecutive cuts – but he tied for 31st in the BMW. Two years later, fear has been replaced by belief.

Two-time Tour champ Victor Dubuisson, fitter and more determined than ever, can join his fellow Frenchman on the leaderboard. The former Ryder Cup star has made an impressive return to the circuit after spending a total of 14 months on the sidelines since the 2017 DP World Tour Championship nursing various ailments. A perforated ear drum was his main issue, but he has been competing regularly since the Desert Classic in January and looking sharp.

Complete your attack with Kristoffer Reitan, a 21-year-old Norwegian who seems likely to be inspired by the exploits of his compatriot and close friend Viktor Hovland in the US Open last week. Hovland even caddied for Reitan after being eliminated from the 2015 US Junior, and Hovland beat Reitan at the last-16 stage of his US Amateur triumph last year.

Hovland finished 12th in the US Open on Sunday and has the world at his feet, while Reitan, the same age, needs European Tour success to kickstart his career. He was the first Norwegian to qualify for the US Open, missing the cut at Shinnecock last year, and he was the only amateur to progress from the European Tour Q-School in November.

Reitan, powerful and well suited to Eichenried, made the quarter-finals of the Perth Super 6 in February, narrowly defeated by the man who went on to win the event. He was 14th in the Hassan Trophy and was ten under par for 54 holes in the Belgian Knockout last time out, missing a couple of cuts by a shot in between those two fine efforts.

Others to note
Jordan Smith
The Bath boy won his only Tour title – the 2017 European Open – in Germany. Tidy 2019 form gives him a chance at another suitable venue.

Pablo Larrazabal
The two-time Eichenried champ finished eighth in the British Masters a month ago, then fourth in Denmark, before withdrawing from the BK with a wrist injury. He has tweeted positively this week about his wrist.

Staking plan
T Detry
2pts each-way 25-1 BoyleSports
J Suri
2pts each-way 28-1 Betfair, Coral, Power
G Migliozzi
1pt each-way 80-1 Betfred, Coral
S Crocker
1pt each-way 80-1 general
R Langasque
1pt each-way 60-1 Sky Bet
V Dubuisson
1pt each-way 50-1 Betfred, Coral
K Reitan
0.5pt each-way 300-1 Coral

BMW International Open lowdown

Course Golfclub Munchen Eichenried, Germany
Prize money €2m (€333,330 to the winner)
Length 7,218 yards
Par 72
Field 156
Course records - 72 holes 261 John Daly (2001) 18 holes 62 David Feherty (1989, 1990), Steen Tinning (1992), Darren Clarke (1992), Greg Turner (1997), Jose Maria Olazabal (2001), Padraig Harrington (2001), Raphael Jacquelin (2003), Simon Dyson (2005), Rafa Echenique (2009)

Course winners taking part Robert Karlsson, Thomas Bjorn (twice), Lee Westwood, David Howell, Martin Kaymer, David Horsey, Pablo Larrazabal (twice), Andres Romero

When to bet By 6.30am tomorrow

When to watch Live on Sky Sports Golf from 10.30am tomorrow

Time difference Germany is one hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

Course overview This tournament flits between Eichenried in Munich and Gut Larchenhof, near Cologne. Eichenried has hosted 23 times previously, most recently from 1997 to 2011, then 2013, 2015 and 2017. The straightforward parkland layout has staged ten rounds of 62 and John Daly reached 27 under par for 72 holes in 2001, but 17 under has been enough to win the last two editions there. The course has been slightly renovated since the European Tour last visited, with the surfaces for all 18 greens changed and some undulations added. The tree-lined track has generous fairways and four par-fives – the sixth, ninth, 11th and 18th – which can all be reached in two shots

Story of last year Thorbjorn Olesen fired a final-round 61 at Gut Larchenhof to post a competitive clubhouse target, but Matt Wallace played the back-nine in five under par to pip the Dane by a shot

Weather forecast Cloudy and muggy, with a constant thunderstorm threat, but hardly any wind throughout the competition days

Type of player suited to the challenge Some of the new greens are more undulating and will increase the challenge, but Eichenried remains a doddle for professionals – attacking golf, a hot putter and four rounds of the 60s is the route to success

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